Mechanical floating device



Dec. 13, 1932.

E. CORRADINO MECHANICAL FLOATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1951 5Sheets-Sheet m 4 a Q R Q w J r \N E g 9Z0. 2 Q Mn & w 9 n Q 7E m n T 9 MMN WM/ n h A w j N Dec. 13, 1932. E. CORRADINO MECHANICAL FLOATINGDEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR mesfo @arradiioray/511s ATTORNEY Dec. 13, 1932. E. cORRADINO MECHANICAL FLOATING DEVICEFiled Aug. 22. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l N VE NTO? ar/"(Z0270 BY 1%?ATTORNEY Patented Dec.. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES ERNESTO CORRADINO, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

MECHANICAL FLOATING DEVICE Application filed August 22, 1931. Serial No.558,697.

This invention relates to floating devices and more particularly refersto" improvements in aquatic devices of the type adapted to support aperson upon the surface of the water,

and equipped with means operable by the occupant thereof for propellingit and steering it around.

Aquatic devices provided with a hand op erable propelling mechanism arenot in a broad sense now. Such devices as have come to my notice howeverare more or less subject to various limitations which necessarilyrestrict their use and value as means of in dulging in aquatic sportsand also as means useful for life saving purposes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a floating deviceadapted to support the body of a person, which is stable and nonsinkableand which can be conveniently propelled and steered by its occupantwhile permitting the body of said occupant being submerged in the water.

Another object is to provide a device of the character specified,equipped with pro-- pelling means which may be operated by the occupantof the device either in a prone or in a sitting position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an open bottom boatshaped floating de vice equipped with propelling means operable by itsoccupant, said device providing a support for its load all around andbeing adapted to support more than one person if desired.

A still further object is to provide a device of the characterspecified, provided with water tight compartments, adapted to carry asupply of water and other provisions adapted for the sustenance or aidof drowning persons or persons stranded in the water.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fullyappear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed inthe appended claims.

My invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of a' -floating device embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof; F ig, 3is atransversal section of the same in an-enlarged scale along line 3'3, ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. '5 is a side elevation of a floating device embodying my inventionin a somewhat different form;

Fig. 6 is a crosssectional view of the same in an enlarged scale acrossline 6-6 of F 1g. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a detail plan View of the rear end of said device showing asteering lever controllable by the feet of the occupant of the device.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, it will be seen that my device has theoutline of a boat and comprises a bow portion 10, a stern 11 and twolongitudinal buoyant rim members extending therebetween and formingtherewith an open center boat-rim shaped structure capable of floatingupon the water.

A skeleton frame 14 extends downwardly from the stern and provides asupport for the rear end of a propeller shaft 15 carrying a propeller 16and for the rudder 17 pivotally mounted at 18,19.

The lower end ofskeleton frame 14; is connected'to the lower end of thebow portion by a keel 20. The propeller shaft 15 extends all the way tothe front and within the bow 10 and carries at its front end a helicalpinion 21 which is in mesh witha helical gear wheel 22 carried byvertical shaft 23.

The upper end of shaft 28 projects above the upper surface of the bowand is equipped with a crank lever 24 by means of which it can beoperated to drive the propeller.

Between the two rim sections 12, 13 I provide a'preferablyflexibleplatform which is detachably connected at 25, 26 to said rim sectionsandwhich isprefe'rably formed by a horizontal portion 27 and a frontinclined portion 28 adapted to support the front part of the body of theoccupant in an upwardly inclined position so that the shoulders and headwill remain abovethe level of the upper. surface of the device.

When the occupant of the device -lies prone upon the platform formed bysections'27, 28

he can therefore rest his left elbow upon the upper surface 29 of thebow and operate the crank lever 24 by means of his right hand. Withinconvenient reach of the left hand, I preferably provide also a steeringlever 30 pivoted at 31 and movable transversely of the device. The lowerend of said lever is attached at 32 to a continuous cable, one strand ofwhich 33 is directed by means of pulley 34 and eyes such as 35 to one ofthe cross arms 36 of the rudder 17 while the other strand 37 is directedby pulley 38 and other eyes 35 to the other cross arm 39 of the rudder.It is therefore possible for the occupant of the device not only todrive the propeller so as to cause the device to travel in water, butalso to control the rudder so as to steer its movements.

By virtue of this arrangement the occupant of the device can have hisbody entirely submerged in water so as to derive the advantages andenjoymentof a bath while indulging in healthful exercise and movingabout in perfect safety even though he may be totally ignorant ofswimming.

The structure thus described is preferably completed by providing twolongitudinal transversely spaced members 40, 41, extending betweenskeleton frame 14 and the inner surface 42 of the stern and one or morelongitudinally spaced cross members such as 43 supported by saidlongitudinal members 40, 41, and forming an open frame with the rest ofthe structure. Cross members 43 provide a seat or seats for the occupantof the device when platform 2728 is removed.

It is also possible of course for the occupant to sit upon the front endof the section 27 facing the front of the boat if section 28 only isremoved or folded over section 27. In this position the person can leanforward and rest an elbow upon the upper surface 29 of the bow andoperate the device as heretofore explained. The propeller shaft 15 ispreferably supported midway of its end by a bracket 44 upwardlyextending from the keel 20.

If desired, the device may be made capable of holding supplies of waterand provisions and to this end the bow and the stern are shown formedwith chambers 45, 46 respectively, said chambers being normally closedby covers 47, 48. i

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I provide a perfectly stablefloating device which may be used not only for pleasure but also forlife saving purposes if desired, and which can be operated by itsoccupant either lying prone upon the platform or in a sitting posture.

My invention may be carried into practice in ways other than that justdescribed. For instance, in Figs. 5 to 7 I show a somewhat similarstructure comprising a bow 49, stern 50, and two buoyant longitudinalrim members 51, 52 extending therebetween, forming an open centerstructure therewith. Instead of a removable flexible platform, thedevice is provided with a permanent rigid platform 53 supported bycleats 54 depending from rim members 51, 52, and forming longitudinalopen spaces 55, 56, with said rim members. The occupant can either lieprone upon said platform or else he can sit astride upon it, as he maydesire.

The device is shown equipped with a propelling mechanism which calls fora motion of the arms similar to that employed in rowing, said mechanismbeing operable either when the occupant is prone upon the platform orwhen he is sitting astride thereof.

Like in the previous case, a skeleton frame 57 extends downwardly fromthe bow and provides a support for the rear end of propeller shaft 58carrying a propeller 59. The front end of propeller shaft 58 carries aconical pinion GO in mesh with a gear (31, mounted on a shaft 62carrying another pinion 63. Pinion G3 is in mesh with and is driven by agear (54 which is mounted on a cross shaft 65 provided at its ends withratchet wheels 66,67. Loosely mounted at each end of shaft 65 areprovided operating levers 68, (59 each having a dog '50 adapted toengage the teeth of its respective ratchet wheel 66 or 67.

Fig. 5 shows the device in a position where operating lever 68, 69 aresubstantially horizontal, extending fiontwardly of shaft at so that thesame can be operated by the arms of the occupant hanging down when theoccupant is prone upon platform If the occupant should choose to situpon the platform he can shift the operating levers to an upwardlyextending position such as shown in dotted lines at 68, and he can.therefore actuall operate the propeller by movements to those employedin rowing.

The device can also in this case be equipped with a rudder 71 which maybe operated by means of a foot lever 72 against which the feet of theoccupant may rest when the occupant is prone upon the platform. Levercan also be operated by the feet of the occu pant when the occupant issitting astride the platform by causing the feet to operate bars orcables 73, frontwardly extending from the arms of lever 7 2, in anysuitable manner.

The constructional details of my invention may vary from those shownwithout depart ing from the inventive idea. The drawings will thereforebe understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and notin a limiting sense. Accordingly, I reserve the right to carry myinvention into prac tics in all these ways and manners which may enter,fairly, into the scope of the appemled claims.

I claim: 1. A mechanical floating device comprismg a bow section, astern section, buoyant llG boat rim sections extending therebetween,forming a rigid open center boat-shaped frame therewith, a passengercarrying frame downwardly spaced from said rim sections, also extendingbetween said bow and stern sections, a propeller carrying shaftlongitudinally extending underneath said passenger carrying frame, andmeans operable by the occupant for actuating said shaft.

2. A mechanical floating device comprising a hollow bow section, ahollow stern section, buoyant boat rim sections extending therebetween,forming a rigid open center boat-shaped frame therewith, a passengercarrying frame downwardly spaced from said rim sections, also extendingbetween said bow and stern sections, a propeller carrying shaftlongitudinally extending underneath said passenger carrying frame, andmeans operable by the occupant for actuating said shaft.

3. A mechanical floating device comprising a hollow bow section, ahollow stern section, buoyant boat rim sections extending therebetween,forming a rigid open center boat-shaped frame therewith, a passengercarrying frame downwardly spaced from said rim sections, also extendingbetween said bow and stern sections, a propeller carrying shaftlongitudinally extending underneath said passenger carrying frame, meansoperable by the occupant for actuating said shaft, and a rudder, alsooperable by the occupant, for steering said device.

4. A mechanical floating device comprising an open center buoyant boatrim shaped frame, a passenger carrying frame associated with anddownwardly spaced from said frame, a propeller carrying shaftlongitudinally extending underneath said passenger carrying frame, atransverse actuating shaft therefor also downwardly spaced from saidpassenger carrying frame, a driving transmission interposed between saidtwo shafts, two oar-like members pivotally mounted one at each end ofsaid transverse shaft, and a unidirectionally operative connection between each oar-like member and said transverse shaft, said passengercarrying frame forming with said boat-rim shaped frame openings throughwhich the arms of the occupant, lying prone upon said passenger carryingframe, can downwardly extend tooperate said oar-like members.

5. A mechanical floating device comprising a hollow bow section, ahollow stern section, buoyant boat rim sections extending therebetween,forming a rigid open center boatshaped frame therewith, a passengercarrying frame downwardly spaced from said rim sections, also extendingbetween said bow and stern sections, a propeller carrying shaftlongitudinally extending underneath said passenger carrying frame, atransverse actuating shaft therefor also downwardly spaced from saidpassenger carrying frame, a driving transmission interposed between saidtwo shafts, two oar-like members pivotally mounted one at each end ofsaid transverse shaft, and a unidirectionally operative connectionbetween each oar-like member and said transverse shaft, said passengercarrying frame forming with said boat-rim sections, openings throughwhich the arms of the occupant, lying prone upon said passenger carryingframe, can downwardly extend to operate said oar-like members.

6. A mechanical floating device comprising a hollow bow section, ahollow stern section, buoyant boat rim sections extending therebetween,forming a rigid open center boat-shaped frame therewith, a passengercarrying frame downwardly spaced from said rim sections, also extendingbetween said bow and stern sections, a propeller carrying shaftlongitudinally extending underneath said passenger carrying frame, atransverse actuating shaft therefor also downwardly spaced from saidpassenger carrying frame, a driving transmission interposed between saidtwo shafts, two oar-like members pivotally mounted one at each end ofsaid transverse shaft, a unidirectionally operative connection betweeneach oar-like member and said transverse shaft, said passenger carryingframe forming with said boat-rim sections, openings through which thearms of the occupant, lying prone upon said passenger carrying frame,can downwardly extend to operate said oar-like members, and a rudder,also operable by the occupant, for steering said device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERNESTO CORRADINO.

